Sustainable Food Procurement Initiative

HL Deb 14 October 2003 vol 653 cc111-2WA

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the United Kingdom delegation advising the European Commission on any changes necessary to fulfil the aims of Defra's sustainable food procurement initiative. [HL4683]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has worked closely with the Office of Government Commerce to ensure that the UK Government's position on integrating sustainable development objectives with procurement practice has been made known to the European Commission by the UK delegation. The UK Government's position is to maintain the current legal and policy framework, which allows public sector bodies to pursue sustainable development through their procurement activities, while also providing that value for money is obtained through purchasing goods and services in a manner that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory.